Another Boston maestro falls sick
mainAndris Nelsons was out of action early this month (he’s back now).
But Jiří Bĕlohlávek who was meant to conduct the Boston Symphony four times next week has come down with an unspecified illness ahead of his 70th birthday bash in Prague next month.
Jiří is replaced in Boston by Seattle’s Ludovic Morlot.
photo: (c) Chris Christodoulou/Lebrecht
press release:
Conductor Jiří Bĕlohlávek has regrettably been forced to withdraw from the BSO concerts in Boston on January 21, 22, and 23, due to medical reasons. Seattle Symphony Orchestra Music Director and former BSO Assistant Conductor Ludovic Morlot will replace Mr. Bĕlohlávek as conductor for the all-Czech program also featuring cellist Johannes Moser. The program remains the same.
Thursday, January 21, 10:35 a.m. (Open Rehearsal)
Thursday, January 21
Friday, January 22, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 23
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Johannes Moser, cello
SMETANA “The Moldau” from Má Vlast
MARTINŮ Fantaisies symphoniques (Symphony No. 6)
DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto
Interestingly, Belholavek conducted Martinu’s and Mahler’s First Symphonies with magnificent Czech Philharmonics today in Prague and is scheduled to give two more concerts this week. He did look a bit frail with surprisingly combed down hair.
It looks like his hair was not merely combed down. I am honestly worried for him. Could someone please explain what could have happened to make such a dramatic change in his appearance in exactly one week? Just compare the photos from his concert of January 4 on the Czech Philharmonic’s website:
http://operaplus.cz/navrat-do-minulosti-ceska-filharmonie-slavila-120-let-od-sveho-zalozeni/
And to think, they could have called me….
Christoph Eschenbach busy?
Morlot used to be an assistant conductor in Boston, so FWIW he would be a known quantity there (and of course better known now).
And FWIW a wonderful conductor.